The Thing [2025] #2 - Marvel Comics

THE THING No. 2, August 2025

Whilst on paper a street-level scrap between a certain super-strong “idol of millions” and “the world’s deadliest assassin” might not appear all that appealing to many readers – on account of Benjamin Grimm’s unbreakable skin being imperious to even the most deadly of throwing stars, Tony Fleecs still arguably manages to make the potentially one-sided skirmish work inside Issue Two of “The Thing”. Sure, the author ‘magically’ imbues Bullseye with the sort of super-strength needed to stand toe-to-toe with the Fantastic Four’s founding member. But this contrivance doesn’t surprisingly prove all that integral to the enthralling flow of the fight. 

Indeed, much of the entertainment to be gained from this quite lengthy confrontation is due to the writer permeating the punch-up with plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments, such as when Lester catches Grimm in the mouth with a razor blade and causes the former “scrawny kid from Yancy Street” to momentarily babble incomprehensively due to the minor injury. Furthermore, despite the final result never really being in any doubt, the possibility of Daredevil’s arch-nemesis identifying the crime boss he is working for persistently hangs in the balance, and thus keeps the audience interested in the struggle’s ultimate outcome; “That guy was taking orders. He’s somebody’s guy…”

Fleecs also seems to do a good job in highlighting Ben’s savviness when it comes to him investigating the disappearance of Marty’s niece. Many other writers may well have simply penned the titular character mindlessly smacking his way through countless minions, hit men and super-villains before simply rescuing the young girl. However, in this mini-series, the “ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing" is shown rather impressively utilising his experience, local knowledge and fame to track the kidnappers down to “some shady waterfront warehouses”.

Possibly the only element to this twenty-page periodical which therefore does slightly let the storytelling down is some of Justin Mason’s artwork. The illustrator is clearly able to proficiently pencil the vast majority of this comic’s sense-shattering shenanigans. Yet every now and then also appears to have rushed sketching a figure, such as some stiff-looking panels of an arrogant Bullseye stood high atop a street sign-post, or a possibly overworked splash of Hammerhead, which somewhat strangely appears as if it was a much smaller picture which has subsequently been ‘blown up’ so as to help fill out the book.

Writer: Tony Fleecs. Artist: Justin Mason & Color Artist: Alex Sinclair